Men's Tennis Outlasts FDU In NEC Semifinals, 4-3

Saturday, April 17

Mercer County Tennis Center - West Windsor, N.J.

9 am

Quinnipiac University

Fairleigh Dickinson

4/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - John Hughes (Springfield, Mass.) was a double winner and clinched the match with a three-set victory over Peter Skvarka at No. 2 singles as the No. 3 Quinnipiac University men's tennis team defeated second-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at Mercer County Tennis Center. With the win, the Bobcats (9-4) advance to the NEC Championship Match for the fifth time in the last seven years, in search of their fourth title. They'll face intrastate NEC rival Sacred Heart tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. The win also avenges a 4-1 regular-season loss to the Knights on March 31.

James Kwei (Dedham, Mass.) joined Hughes in winning twice. Kwei returned to the singles line-up after recently being hobbled due to an injury to give the Bobcats a spark. He first paired with Brian Mikkelson (Mequon, Wis.) at No. 1 doubles to defeat Marco Jemersic and Sven Sjoerds, 8-5. Hughes and Andrew Weeden followed with an 8-6 triumph over Skvarka and Dominic Hemy. Charlie Feldman (Easton, Conn.) and Dillon Kraus (Bayside, N.Y.) were defeated by Andrew Denny and Goren Guy Eliav at No. 3, 8-4.

The Bobcats' momentum continued in singles as sophomores Kwei and Garrett Lane (Reading, Mass.) earned singles victories to put the Bobcats on top, 3-0. Lane made quick work of Yuri Gricheno, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 4, before Kwei finished off Ted Segerfors, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 5.

But the Knights stormed back with wins at No. 6, 3, and 1. Feldman fell to Denny at No. 6, 6-4, 6-3, before Weeden was defeated in three sets by Sjoerds at No. 3, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. Mikkelson also fell in three sets to Hemy, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.

Hughes then took over in the third set of his No. 2 singles match. After winning the first, 6-4, Skvarka took the second by the same score. But the senior, Hughes, was too much for the Knights' freshman in the third set, winning by a 6-2 margin.